In this paper the current national legislations, the quality assurance approaches and the activities of impact analysis of three quality assurance agencies from Romania, Spain and Germany are described from a strategic perspective. The analysis shows that the general methodologies (comprising, for example, self-evaluation reports, peer reviews, on-site visits, assessment reports, follow-up measures) and main subjects of quality assurance in higher education (such as study programmes and institutional structures and processes) are very similar in the sample cases. However, up to now, impact evaluation of quality assurance has not been implemented systematically in the sample agencies (as in many others). This is the more relevant since the European standards of quality assurance in higher education oblige quality assurance agencies to analyse their general findings and observe the effects of their activities. Against that background, it is argued that methodologically sound impact analyses of quality assurance interventions in higher education institutions should be seen as an integral part of the agencies’ own quality assurance because it would make their work more transparent and easier to improve systematically. The paper identifies some professionalisation needs required for impact evaluation competences: staff and peers who are qualified by methodological knowledge but also by ‘soft’ skills such as project and conflict management. 相似文献
The present study analyses the impact of negotiation processes on activating argumentative resources for decision-making in a socioscientific issue (SSI) in biology classes. The research focuses on the potential of group-based negotiation processes to activate the use of relevant argumentative resources without any prescribed or explicit instructions on these resources and arguments. In the corresponding intervention with a pre-post-design, students are encouraged to reason and weight their own arguments, which are based on protecting local biodiversity. The students have to reason and weight individually (pre-phase) immediately before they discuss their own reasoning and weighting with others in groups (treatment). The students have to then, once again, reason and weight their arguments individually (post-phase). The students are instructed, during these three steps (pre-phase, treatment, post-phase), using an educational tool, target-mat, which structures the reasoning and weighting visually, but does not prescribe the way of argumentation. By analysing the students’ argumentative resources, normative and fact-based elements can be measured immediately before and after the negotiation process. In terms of the pre-phase, the use of differing and appropriate argumentative resources can be analysed in relation to different arguments. The pre- and post-comparison reveals relevant changes leading to a substantial increase of the quality of reasoning. Therefore, in a student-centred decision-making process with minimal guidance, students are encouraged to become aware of the appropriateness of different argumentative resources.
In Germany, the field-based element in the education/training of early childhood educators is given high priority in the development of professional competencies. Nevertheless, Germany lacks a firmly anchored regulatory and curricular framework for early childhood education and care settings as ‘workplace learning sites’ (Lernort Praxis) and the current approaches towards practical placements have been strongly criticised. Debates have focused on the (inadequate) interface between theory and practice and the overriding influence of the vocational colleges as sites of professional preparation. The examination of existing regulations regarding practical placements shows that the practice sites and the mentors who work there receive too little attention. Beyond this, the education/training of (early) childhood educators is dominated by the vocational colleges – not least because the two places of learning (i.e. the college and the workplace) are assigned to different authorities and ministries. The quality of workplace-based learning can therefore only be enhanced by relevant policy decisions and by integrating the interface between theory and practice on a curricular basis. 相似文献
This paper investigates the robust H∞ dynamic output feedback control problem for networked control systems (NCSs) with quantized measurements. The measurement losses of the communicated information are considered in an unreliable communication channel. The robust H∞ dynamic output feedback controllers are designed to handle the measurement losses and mitigate the quantization effects such that the resultant closed-loop NCS is mean-square stochastically stable with a prescribed H∞ disturbance attenuation performance. The controller existence conditions can be derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Finally, an example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. 相似文献
While there is an increased interest in describing attitudes of teachers, parents and peers towards students with special educational needs in regular education, there is a lack of knowledge about various variables relating to the attitudes of these three groups. The aims of this study are: (1) to examine which variables relate to the attitudes of teachers (N?=?44), parents (N?=?508) and peers (N?=?1113) towards students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autistic Spectrum Syndrome or a cognitive disability in regular primary education and (2) to examine whether teachers and parents’ attitudes affect the attitudes of peers. An attitude survey was used to assess attitudes and data were analysed by means of multilevel analyses. The variables found in this study relating to attitudes can be used as a foundation to develop interventions to change attitudes. 相似文献
Teachers are seen as key persons to implement inclusive education. Positive attitudes are therefore argued as playing a considerable role in implementing this educational change successfully. The aim of this study is to examine what attitudes teachers hold towards inclusive education, which variables are related to their attitudes and if these affect the social participation of pupils with special needs in regular schools. A review of 26 studies revealed that the majority of teachers hold neutral or negative attitudes towards the inclusion of pupils with special needs in regular primary education. No studies reported clear positive results. Several variables are found which relate to teachers’ attitudes, such as training, experience with inclusive education and pupils’ type of disability. No conclusion could be drawn regarding the effects of teachers’ attitudes on the social participation of pupils with special needs. 相似文献